What Another Year Can Do
A year ago, I loved my job. Now I simply like it but see it as a stepping stone to something greater. A year ago, I thought I was in a wonderful healthy relationship. I wasn’t but now I truly am. A year ago, I would rush the days in a search to find something exciting and better. I searched for something to give my life more meaning. I feel like I’ve found that meaning now and I can embrace everyday life even when it is monotonous and repetitive.
The Power of Human Connection
The sentiments have been shared by billions of people before me but I believe that love is what gives me that meaning. I’ve always thrived on human connection. I feel like I am contributing to the world most when I share my struggles with mental illness or when I volunteer my time because that allows for human connection. I struggle at work with managers that are too business focused and have little regard for employees as people. I’ve been a hopeless romantic for as long as I can remember. I’ve always wanted a Noah to my Allie or a Jack to my Rose. I’ve wanted a person that can hug me and make my worries go away. Someone who lets me cry when I need it but encourages me to think differently. I am beyond grateful to have found that person.
However, if it weren’t for my trip to Australia two years ago where I spent three weeks with wonderfully hilarious, loving and independent female friends I never would have gotten to the point where I am now. We spent hours talking over coffee about careers, life, love and travel. Our connection was so strong because we all knew that we needed to discover life on our own as strong women before we could find happiness in relationships. The world is huge and each person should explore it as an individual at some point in life. While I’ve had many travel partners on my journeys abroad I would still consider myself a solo explorer. I was learning about myself with each trip and new experience.
Now, two years later, I no longer want to be a solo on life’s big adventures. I never rushed into dating because I’ve never need validation from a man. I waited until I knew and loved myself before finding anyone. I’m lucky that during my search I had failure. Humans do learn best from failure. We learn what works for us and what doesn’t. What we are willing to sacrifice and what compromise is too large. I appreciate my failure but I am even luckier for the success I’ve had. I wanted love but wasn’t expecting to find it so soon. I never would have guessed that a simple message exchange on January 1st would have changed my life so much and brought me so much peace. Even though the man I love most is 7965 miles away from me right now I truly do feel him in my heart every minute of every day. I’m missing my daily hugs but they will resume soon. I want him by my side whether I am going to the grocery store or on vacation or baking cookies. I want to show him my favorite sights in London and of my hometown. I want him to meet my amazing friends from Australia (and New Zealand) so he can thank them for being amazing and helping me become the person I am today.
